NSWRL and NSW-CRL to Re-Merge
23rd August 2018
In a landmark decision, the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) and Country Rugby League (CRL) today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will involve formal discussions in relation to a possible merger that would see Rugby League in NSW governed by one body for the first time in more than 80 years.
The NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden and CRL Chief Executive Terry Quinn made the announcement after executing the document whereby both organisations would work towards merging into a single entity by 1 November 2020.
The merger would allow for significantly more combined resources to deliver Rugby League programs and competitions across the whole state. The NSWRL and CRL have assured all existing staff that their employment is secure.
Terry Quinn said: "This announcement is a major step forward for the game in New South Wales. "CRL and NSWRL have always been committed to advancing the state of the game in both metropolitan and regional areas and we're pleased to be working alongside NSWRL seeking to create a merged governing body that will continue to serve in the best interests of clubs, participants and volunteers at all levels." David Trodden said: "It's a particularly significant day in the history of Rugby League in this state. The CRL and NSWRL have been working closely together for many years and at the start of next year will be moving together into our new Centre of Excellence. "This development is really one of the final steps in a natural progression and is a strong statement that the future of Rugby League in New South Wales is secure." David Trodden and Terry Quinn acknowledged the role Jim Doyle played in the merger process.
Prior to this announcement the NRL had threatened to withdraw the $10 mil of future annual funding from the NSW-CRL if this merger did not proceed.
The NSW-CRL had been operating like a seperate state of Australia focusing on the needs of NSW Country areas, while the NSWRL had focused on the operation on running the game in Sydney, including running the top tier competition. But the inception of the ARL and NRL running the top tier competition and the inclusion of Canberra, Newcastle and Illawarra in the national competition, and the ever increasing expansion of the greater Sydney population the need to seperate CRL and NSWRL in running the game was becoming blurred.
NSWRL and NSW-CRL Historic Governance Change
18th October 2019
NSW Rugby League members today (18 October) voted unanimously to approve a new constitution in a landmark move that will see Rugby League in NSW governed by one body for the first time in more than 80 years. The decision was also supported by Country Rugby League (CRL) members who earlier voted to wind up the organisation’s operations, effective immediately. The changes in governance will also be effective immediately from today, Friday 18 October 2019 (more than 12 months earlier than originally planned), with all existing NSWRL and CRL staff working for a single merged entity. The merger will allow for significantly more combined resources to deliver Rugby League programs and competitions across the whole state. It will also unlock a significant investment in the game from the National Rugby League (NRL) through many new program initiatives.
The NSWRL's new nine-member Board, finalised today, will meet for the first time on 23 October with current NSWRL Chairman Dr George Peponis OAM remaining at the helm. The Board was increased from seven to nine until the 2021 AGM to help with transitioning through the merger process. In addition to the chair, it consists of four metropolitan and four regional directors, of which each area is represented by two elected directors and two specialist appointed directors. The Board is: Dr George Peponis OAM (Chairman), William Johnstone (appointed), Professor Deborah Healey (appointed), Nick Politis AM (elected), Geoff Gerard (elected), Terry Brady (appointed), Doug Harrison (appointed), John Anderson (elected) and Bob Walsh (elected). Bob Millward OAM has been appointed President, replacing John Chalk AM who passed away in August.
Dr Peponis said it was very exciting to be involved in such a landmark decision and commended the NRL's leadership team of Peter Beattie, Peter V'landys, Todd Greenberg, and Jim Doyle, along with the CRL's John Anderson and Terry Quinn for their collaboration. "This merger between the New South Wales Rugby League and Country Rugby League has been on the agenda since the early 1990s and has been a major strategic priority of our Board since I became Chairman," Dr Peponis said. "I am really pleased it has been delivered for our whole state. It is the most significant governance development in the game in New South Wales for 80 years and we are really excited about what that means for the future of rugby league in this state and the opportunity a single governing body presents for everyone at all levels of the game from the city to the country."